HB 354 Summary

• Requires photo identification to be submitted with the absentee ballot itself rather than with the absentee ballot application, with ballots without identification deemed provisional if received after the eighth day before election.

• Prohibits the absentee election manager and circuit clerk from extending operating hours outside normal business hours during an election year.

• Requires the absentee election manager to report within 10 calendar days of an election to the Secretary of State and Attorney General identifying voters who requested ballots mailed to addresses where more than four absentee ballots were requested, and voters requesting absentee ballots in counties other than their registration county.

• Mandates the absentee election manager record and post daily on the county courthouse bulletin board the name, voting place, application date, ballot sent date, and ballot return date for each absentee voter applicant.

• Assigns each absentee ballot an identifying tracking number, increases poll watchers to one per 10,000 absentee ballots, and classifies absentee ballots received by mail more than six calendar days after election day as provisional ballots.